About
I am fascinated by how organisms acquire information through their sensory systems and how this information impacts the interactions that occur both within and between species. Much of my research focuses on the chemical senses of smell and taste. I enjoy studying the make-up of chemical signals and cues and uncovering how organisms use this information. However, as every species has a unique sensory world comprised from the inputs of multiple senses, I also consider how information acquired across a variety of sensory modalities produces the behaviors and patterns of biodiversity we can observe.
Humans are rapidly altering the sensory landscapes of organisms through the introduction of pollutants such as anthropogenic noise, airborne chemicals, and artificial lighting. A key component of my research program is to examine how these pollutants impact the ability of organisms to detect reliable information using their senses and the consequences for species and ecological communities.
My work spans multiple taxonomic groups including birds, bats, insects, and plants. I am particularly fond of nocturnal organisms whose sensory worlds are often shaped by non-visual information such as smells, tastes, and sounds. Sensory ecology is an interdisciplinary field, and my research draws inspiration and methods from behavioral, molecular, chemical, quantitative, and community ecology.
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Clint Francis at Cal Poly and Dr. Robert Raguso at Cornell University. My research is funded by a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology. I completed a PhD in Ecology at the University of California, Davis under the guidance of Drs. Gail Patricelli and Susan Ebeler.
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the outdoors, reading novels, experimenting in the kitchen, and knitting wooly garments. Thank you for visiting my site. Please feel free to contact me (sjenni02[at]calpoly.edu) with any questions or comments.
Humans are rapidly altering the sensory landscapes of organisms through the introduction of pollutants such as anthropogenic noise, airborne chemicals, and artificial lighting. A key component of my research program is to examine how these pollutants impact the ability of organisms to detect reliable information using their senses and the consequences for species and ecological communities.
My work spans multiple taxonomic groups including birds, bats, insects, and plants. I am particularly fond of nocturnal organisms whose sensory worlds are often shaped by non-visual information such as smells, tastes, and sounds. Sensory ecology is an interdisciplinary field, and my research draws inspiration and methods from behavioral, molecular, chemical, quantitative, and community ecology.
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Clint Francis at Cal Poly and Dr. Robert Raguso at Cornell University. My research is funded by a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology. I completed a PhD in Ecology at the University of California, Davis under the guidance of Drs. Gail Patricelli and Susan Ebeler.
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the outdoors, reading novels, experimenting in the kitchen, and knitting wooly garments. Thank you for visiting my site. Please feel free to contact me (sjenni02[at]calpoly.edu) with any questions or comments.
